By Andrew Warshaw
February 26 – The political crisis in Ukraine has forced the country’s March 5 friendly against the United States, scheduled to take place in Kharkiv, to be moved to Cyprus due to the unstable and often violent situation.
Ukraine’s football officials said the request to relocate came from the U.S. side and is the latest example of the ongoing instability spilling over into sport.
Although most of the anti-government clashes that killed scores of protesters and led to the ousting of Ukraine’s president, Viktor Yanukovich, occurred in Kiev, the pro-Russian eastern city of Kharkiv is also experiencing political turbulence. Yanukovich is reported to have taken refuge there but this has not yet been confirmed.
“We decided to go towards the US football federation request to play the match between our teams outside Ukraine for safety reasons,” Ukraine’s football federation statement said. “We have chosen to play the match in Cyprus.”
A statement from the US federation said: “After discussions with the Ukrainian Football Federation, we have decided not to play in Ukraine on March 5 and are planning to move the match to a city in Cyprus. We are in the final stages of discussions with Ukraine and the Cyprus Football Association to determine the location and kickoff time.”
Last week’s Europa League match between Dynamo Kiev and the Spanish side Valencia was also played in Cyprus for safety reasons while there are reports that Ukraine’s Premier League is also considering whether to postpone the restart of the domestic championship after the winter break.
The March 5 friendly represents a vital opportunity for head coach Jurgen Klinsmann to call up any new players, especially those in Europe, as he considers his World Cup squad. The Americans then meet arch-rivals Mexico in a prestige friendly in Arizona on April 2 before Klinsmann finalises his roster.
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